For those with a one-letter hole in yesterday’s Mephisto solution, here’s the clue you need to fill it. 28 Look into publicity for old estate (4)
Month: January 2010
Times 24443, The secrets of the hoary deep……
Solving time: 38 minutes Music: Schubert, Wanderer Fantasy, Richter I thought my time was a bit slow for this puzzle, which is only of medium difficulty. Some of the vocabulary repeats recent puzzles, and some … Read more “Times 24443, The secrets of the hoary deep……”
Mephisto 2577 – Paul McKenna
This took about 2 hours in four goes, scattered over gaps in the snooker on the box. I used Chambers after about 6 answers were in, and found the SE corner hardest – 32, 34, … Read more “Mephisto 2577 – Paul McKenna”
ST 4364 (Sun 17 Jan) – Smike analysis
Solving time: Lost, but about 6 or 7 minutes, I think, with the last few on STRETCHER, CONCRETE, RETRENCH and finally KISMET. No howlers that I spotted, but a few strange ones. * = anagram, … Read more “ST 4364 (Sun 17 Jan) – Smike analysis”
Saturday Times 24436 (Jan 16th)
Solving time 13:46, pretty average puzzle really – not too hard, not too easy, but some interesting wordplay elements nevertheless. Across 1 OVERRIDING – OVER (finished) + RIDING (up). Unusually, a 2-word cryptic indication followed … Read more “Saturday Times 24436 (Jan 16th)”
Jumbo 852
The usual Jumbo rubric: as the solution is available alongside (or indeed before) the blog, comment is confined only to references that might remain obscure to overseas / inexperienced solvers even with the answer visible, … Read more “Jumbo 852”
Jumbo 853
I did not record my time, but this certainly kept me entertained. In my opinion there were a number of excellent clues, particularly 28 Down where when the solution dawned I could not help smiling. I hope … Read more “Jumbo 853”
Times Crossword 24441
I didn’t time this one because I was solving it while watching a tennis match, but I was left with the impression it was distinctly tricky, confirmed by the difficulty in finding answers that could … Read more “Times Crossword 24441”
Times 24,440 – Garnishing on a well-cooked dish
Since being assigned to this fortnightly duty, I find waking up on alternate Thursdays a pleasant experience as I look forward to solving and blogging. Thank you, Peter B. Today’s puzzle was surprising easy and … Read more “Times 24,440 – Garnishing on a well-cooked dish”
24439
Solving time: 5:34 An easy puzzle for me, probably because there were 5 fairly easy double defs, and some pretty clear anagrams. There are some novel clues here as well as the easy stuff. And … Read more “24439”